Automatic railroad switch



Jul 3, 1923. 1,460,981 T. M. PRIM- AUTOMATIC RAILROAD SWITCH Filed Sept. 26. 192

Patented July 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES THOMAS M. PRIM, OF ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD swrron.

Application filed September 26, 1922. Serial No. 590,691.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, THOMAS M. PRIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ontario, in the county of San Bernardino, California, have invented a new and useful Automatic Railroad Switch, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in switches, constructed so as to direct rolling stock in one direction, while allowing it to return from more than one direction. 7

An important object of the invention is theprovision of a switch to direct rolling stock in one direction and also of means for shifting the switch when returning. from another direction without the wheels actually striking the shifting rails.

A further object is to constructswitches of such a nature that two cars traveling in opposite directions upon a single straightway track will be switched to turnouttraclrs and back onto the straightway track for passing one anotherwithout the necessity of manually operating the switches.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for manually operating the switch, so as to direct rolling stock in either direction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willbe apparent during the course of the'following description.

In'the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same;

Figure 1 is adiagram showing my improved switches in use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of one switch.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the movableswitch body, and

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Figure 2, showingthe switch being thrown.

Referring to the drawing, A and B indicate the straightway tracks, while C and D designate the turnout or passage track por 'tions. Where the tracks C and D terminate at the two straightway tracks A and B are provided thetwo switches E and F. Said switchesare so constructed that the rolling Thus the will be directed on turnout or passage track C. Upon track D is provided another switch G to be manually operated for directing the rolling stock onto the side track H. Said side track is used for dropping freight cars and the like.

Referring to the switches E, F and G, the numerals 1O designates a movable body having the track portions 11 and 12 thereupon adapted to be moved from one rail of the straightway track to the other, as the body is swung upon a pivot as at 13. Said track portions 11 and 12 are tapered and terminate in sharp edges at the outer ends, while the .18. The lower surface of the arm 17 is cut away as at 19, to allow said arm to overlap the rail. The other side of said arm 17 also v has its lower portion cut away as at 20 to also allow said arm to extend over a rail when the switch is thrown.

A cutout portion 21 is provided in the body 10 to receive the head of a bolt 22, in

order that said bolt may be carried by said body 10. The bolt 22 extends through one of the rails of tracks 0 and D and has a coiled spring 28 on its outer end so as to yieldably hold said body 10 against one of the rails of the straightway tracks. Suitable means is provided as at 24, for adjusting the tension of said spring 23.

As indicated at 25, an arm 26 is pivotally secured for manually shifting the body 10 upon its pivot 13 against the tension of the spring 23. Cut out portions such as shown at 27 and 28 may be provided in order to lighten the weight of the main body 10.

In the operation of the device, when rolling stock enters by way of straightway track A, it will turn to the right and be directed upon turnout or passage track D as the movable body 10 of the switch E is held in the position as shown in the drawing by means of spring 23, while another rolling stock entering upon straightway track B will be turned to the right and directed upon turnoutior passage track C, as indi ated in the drawings. Asthe rolling stock or cars keep moving, the wheels on one side of such stock will strike the beveled face 18 oiarm l7 and shift the rail portions 11 and 12 to the other side against the tension of the spring 28, thus allowing the rolling stock to enter upon the straightway tracks again. It will thus be seen that two separate cars traveling in opposite directions can pass without the manualoperation of'a switch.

To enter the side track H it is necessary to ananually operatethe switch G, while retl lrning out upon the main tracks the switch will be operated by the wheels of the rolling stock, as hereinbei ore described.

Another switch such as G can be applied at the outer end oi the side track H so as to allow rolling stock to-ente-r upon the side track l'l'and drop off cars and move straight ahead and out on the main track again.

I It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and-that various changes in the shape, size, and arra-ngemel'its oi parts may be resorted'to without departing from the spirit ol' the invention or the scope oi the sub joined claims;

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A switch of the character described, comprising amovable switch member, an arm extending forwardly from saidswitch member to be operated by the wheel's of rolling stock for shifting the switch member, and spring mean-s for returning said switch member to normal position.

2. A switch of the character described, comprising a pivoted switch body, apair of rails rigidly'secured upon said body, and an armrigidly secured to and extei'iding from the end of said'body to be operated by the wheels ofrollingstock for shifting the body portion carrying said rails.

3 A switch of the character described, com-prising a switch. body pivoted at one end, a pair of rails carried by said body, and an arm rigidly secured to and extending forwardly from the pivotedend of said body to be operated by the wheels of rolling stock for shifting said body carrying the said switch rails.

1 A switch of the character described, comprising a pivoted switch body, rails carriedby said body, and an arm extending forwardly from said body to be operated by the wheels of rollingstoc-k for shifting the bodycarrying said switch rails, and spring means for returning said body to normal position.

5. 111 a switch, the combination with a straightway track and turnout tracks diverging from said straightway track, of a movable switch body for directing rolling,

stock upon a certain one of said turnout tracks, and an arm extending forwardly from said body adapted to engage the wheels oi rolling steel: for moving said switch body upon returning to the straightway track from the other of said turnout tracks.

6. A switch of the character described, comprisinga pivoted' switch body, rails car ried by said body, and an arm extending forwardly l'romsaid bodyt'o be operated by the wheels-oi rolling stock for shiitingthe body carrying said switch rails, spring means for returning said body to normal position,- and means-for manually operating said switch.

7. A switch of the character described, comprising a switch body pivoted near one end, rails carried by saidlbody, an arm extending from the-pivoted end of said bod} to be operated by the' wheels of: rolling stool: for shifting the body portion carrying said rails in a direction opposite to the movement of said arms, arodextending from said body, and a coil spring about said rod for returning said'body to normal position.

8. In a switch, the combination with a straightway track and turnout tracksdiverging from said straightwaytrack, of a movable switch body, and an arm extending forwardly from said body and adjacent one of the rails of one of the turnout tracks adapted to be moved by the wheels of rolling stock upon said rail; said arlil being cut away on its lower surface to allow the end of saidarm to overlap said rail't'o give a greater throw of saidv switch. body;

9.1111 a switch, the combination with a straightway track, turnout tracks diverging fron'i said straightway track, theinner: rails of said turnouti tracks terminating: ashert distance from said istrai'ghtway tracks, of a pivoted switch body, short rails carried by said body adaptedto: align with said, rail terminations, and an arm extending forwardly from said=body adapted to. be. operated: by rolling stock wheels for shifting said body carrying said short rails from'one of the rails of saidstraightway track to the other rail.

10.- In a switch, thei'combination with a straightway track, and turnout. tracksv diverging from each other and from said straightway track, ofa pivoted-switch body, short rails: upon said body, arm extending from said body and adjacent one rail of one of the turnout tracksg-and'springmeans adapted to yieldabl r hold one of the' short rails carried by said bodyagainst enact the rails of said straiglrtwaytraclr, for direct ing rolling-stock upon'one of the-turnout tracks, while rolling stock can return. upon the other turnouts track by the. wheels the ra of engaging said'arm to move" the rails car 'lipoq pres/ta pail THOMAS PRIM not 

